i want to begin with a fast moving story out of syria. a group of rebels helping fight to overthrow president bashar al assad is about to be declared a terrorist organization. u.s. government documents indicate this radical group known as the al nursa front has ties to al qaeda. this group has been behind some of the major military successes for the syrian rebels thus far. but also some more extreme tactics like suicide bombings. nick payton walsh joins me now live from beirut. nick, we know some of the same fighters fought in the iraqi insurgency. what more do we know about them? >> reporter: well, it is interesting how the u.s. government has chosen to designate this group. they quite simply said that the front, which is what many people remember from the syrian rebellion, behind the key victories, the more extreme tactics, suicide bombings, even claimed attacks on part civilian regime held areas, it says this name is simply another name for al qaeda in iraq, which we all recall from the iraqi insurgency. that is clearing the link betwe